Fluid-Connected Cushion Structure for Electronic Device Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices, such as notebook computers, often experience instability due to manufacturing tolerance issues, leading to uneven contact with cushions and potential swaying or tilting when placed on a work plane.
Innovation Solution
A cushion structure comprising flexible cushions with opposite surfaces and a channel system within the device's body, where fluid is used to compress and distribute force across multiple cushions for stable placement, ensuring balanced support and preventing tilting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional rigid cushions are used for supporting the electronic device, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the device becomes unstable and may sway or tilt due to manufacturing tolerance causing uneven contact with the work plane
Solution Approach 1:
The cushion structure is divided into multiple independent cushion units (first cushion, second cushion, third cushion, fourth cushion) arranged at different positions. Each cushion can independently deform and adjust to accommodate manufacturing tolerances and uneven work planes, ensuring stable support without requiring a complex integrated structure
Solution Approach 2:
Fluid (gas or liquid) is introduced into the cushion structure to enable flexible deformation of the cushions. The fluid allows each cushion to adapt its shape and contact area with the work plane, compensating for manufacturing tolerances and preventing device swaying or tilting while maintaining structural simplicity
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cushion structure is made rigid to provide stable support, then the support strength is sufficient, but the cushion cannot adapt to manufacturing tolerance variations and uneven contact with the work plane
Solution Approach 1:
The cushion structure transitions from a static rigid form to a dynamic flexible form by incorporating fluid-filled chambers. The cushions can dynamically adjust their deformation state based on external forces and work plane conditions, allowing them to adapt to manufacturing tolerances while maintaining sufficient support strength through controlled fluid pressure
Solution Approach 2:
The physical state of the cushion (rigidity, shape, contact area) is changed by modifying the fluid parameters (pressure, volume, type of fluid). This allows the cushion to maintain adaptability to work plane variations while adjusting support strength as needed to prevent device swaying or tilting
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The cushion structure effectively stabilizes electronic devices by automatically adjusting to manufacturing tolerances, ensuring they remain level and secure during use, enhancing user comfort and preventing instability.
Implementation Method 1
When the first surface of at least one of the cushions sustains a force and deforms toward the second surface, the fluid in the channel is compressed to drive the second surfaces of the other cushions to deform toward the first surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
A cushion structure suitable for an electronic device is provided. The cushion structure includes cushions and at least one channel. Each cushion has a first surface and a second surface that are flexible and opposite to each other. Each cushion is combined to a body of the electronic device through its second surface, and the electronic device is placed on and in contact with a platform through the first surfaces of the cushions. The channel is in the body and communicated with the second surfaces. The channel is filled with a fluid that is in contact with the second surfaces of the cushions. When the first surface of at least one of the cushions sustains a force and deforms toward the second surface, the fluid in the channel is compressed to drive the second surfaces of the other cushions to deform toward the first surfaces to support the electronic device.